Missing persons, dementia and wandering

Understand how dementia can affect a person’s behaviour and cause them to wander or go missing.

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People with dementia are at risk of wandering and getting lost.

Understand how dementia can affect a person’s behaviour, and how to prevent loved ones from going missing.

What is dementia

Dementia is a loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with the normal activities of daily living.

Dementia can happen to anyone, but is usually associated with people aged 65 and over.

Conditions causing dementia

Several diseases and conditions can result in dementia, with very similar behaviour patterns.

Examples of other diseases and conditions where dementia symptoms may be seen are:

  • Pick's disease
  • vascular dementia (mini strokes)
  • fluid on the brain (hydrocephalus)
  • Korsakoff's Syndrome and other alcohol related dementia
  • brain injury
  • as a result of a brain tumour
  • AIDS-related dementia.

Report someone with dementia as missing

If a person with dementia goes missing or wandering, do not wait 24 hours to make a report. Call Triple Zero (000) immediately and report the person missing.

After you have contacted police, visit your local police station and file a missing persons report.

What we will ask you when you report a missing person

The police will ask you questions about:

  • history of their previous wandering
  • the missing person's state of mind
  • the last three addresses that the missing person lived at
  • any registered wandering devices or bracelets
  • places they often visit.

For further information on how to make a report, visit Report a missing person.

Dementia and behaviour

People with dementia are at risk of wandering and getting lost because they may be disoriented, restless, agitated or anxious. Disturbed sleep patterns can also result in unexpected wandering at night.

Once lost, they are in danger of injury and even death from falls, accidents and exposure to unfavourable weather conditions.

Why people with dementia go missing

A person with dementia may believe they are looking for something (such as a familiar place, person or something to eat) or think they have a task they need to complete. This results in goal-driven wandering which can seem purposeful.

Sometimes, people with dementia may wander randomly, with no real purpose. They may initially be motivated by an idea, then become quickly distracted by something else.

People with dementia may go missing for different reasons, with different motivations in mind.

Mild dementia

Someone with mild dementia is still generally capable of looking after themselves, even if they have help from time to time.

Places they are most likely to be found will depend on personal motivation. They may be found in places they used to visit often, such as their local shops, or a previous neighbourhood.

As they can largely look after themselves, they are also still capable of interacting with the outside world. They are therefore more likely to:

  • use public transport
  • travel further distances, in some instances interstate or overseas
  • use vehicles.

Severe dementia

A person with severe dementia may no longer be capable of looking after themselves. They may need full-time supervision or live-in help.

They are most likely to be found in locations indicative of random wandering, regardless of whether their motivations were random or goal-driven. They may experience a high degree of delusion.

Dementia wandering devices

You can purchase and use location tracking devices to keep track of your loved ones who may be prone to wandering.

Victoria Police are not able to provide tracking devices.

Dementia support services

You can reach out for support if you need more information about dementia.

Dementia Australia

The Dementia Centre

Updated

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